The promotion went to someone else. Here's your 5-step playbook

Getting passed over for a promotion you wanted feels like a professional gut punch. The immediate temptation is to get angry, get quiet, or get out. All three are strategic mistakes. A setback like this isn't a verdict on your career; it's a critical data point. How you use that data is what matters next. Don't let emotion drive your decision. Run a deliberate playbook instead.